BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo and the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, have called for renewed collaboration among stakeholders to reform Nigeria’s aviation fuel ecosystem, describing it as critical to the nation’s air transport sustainability and competitiveness.
Speaking at the Gateway Colloquium organised by the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) in Lagos on Thursday, Keyamo said the forum’s theme; “Aviation Fuel Business: The Scenario and the Metaphor”, reflected both the realities and opportunities confronting the sector.
“Aviation fuel sits at the very heart of airline operations. It does not only represent a key cost driver for airlines but also a strategic index of national logistics and economic vitality”, Keyamo declared.
The minister noted that the “scenario” in the colloquium’s theme symbolised the current operational challenges, fluctuating prices, unstable supply and infrastructure gaps, while the “metaphor” challenged stakeholders to imagine an energy future that balances growth, innovation, and environmental responsibility.
Keyamo, who commended LAAC for sustaining dialogue on aviation reform, said his ministry was pursuing policies to ensure availability, accessibility, and affordability of aviation fuel through improved coordination among government, oil marketers, and airline operators.
“We are focused on promoting a fair and transparent fuel supply chain that supports both economic sustainability and operational excellence.
“This conversation is more than an analysis of challenges, it’s an opportunity to shape solutions”, he noted.
He urged participants to “speak freely, think boldly and help chart a course that will make Nigerian aviation stronger and more sustainable,” adding that the colloquium should “ignite new ideas, strengthen collaborations, and chart a forward-looking path that ensures Nigeria’s aviation industry remains resilient, competitive, and globally aligned.”
The minister’s remarks set the tone for the day’s deliberations, which drew together aviation experts, airline executives, fuel marketers, and regulators.
Also addressing the gathering, FAAN Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, represented by Henry Agbebire, the Director of Consumer Protection, emphasised FAAN’s commitment to creating a transparent and efficient aviation fuel market.
“FAAN commends LAAC for convening this important colloquium at a time when the aviation fuel business has become both a national concern and an opportunity for innovation,” Kuku said.
She added that FAAN sees the fuel sector as a strategic pillar of airport operations and national connectivity.
To this end, the agency, she said, is implementing measures to strengthen quality assurance, expand fuel infrastructure, and enhance stakeholder cooperation.
“We will work with regulators to streamline and accredit fuel marketers, ensuring that only competent and compliant players operate at our airports “This will promote transparency and a level playing field for all”, she said.
Kuku further disclosed that FAAN is encouraging collaboration among marketers to move the sector “from competition for volume to cooperation for quality and sustainability,” arguing that shared standards, rather than rivalry, should define the market.
She also revealed FAAN’s readiness to support the establishment of additional Joint Users Hydrant Installations (JUHIs) beyond Lagos and Abuja to reduce logistics costs and improve fuel availability nationwide.
“More fuel farms across our airports will ease logistics, reduce costs, and enhance nationwide connectivity,” she said.
Highlighting the agency’s safety commitment, Kuku assured stakeholders that FAAN’s Quality Assurance framework would continue to uphold global standards in fuel storage, handling, and delivery.
In addition, FAAN plans to expand enabling infrastructure, from airside access to modern storage facilities, while encouraging innovation, particularly in exploring Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) through partnerships with forward-thinking marketers.
“In essence, “FAAN stands ready to be an enabler, facilitator, and partner in ensuring that Nigeria’s aviation fuel ecosystem becomes stronger, cleaner, and more resilient.”
Industry observers at the event noted that both Keyamo and Kuku’s messages aligned on one central theme: collaboration is the key to reforming Nigeria’s aviation fuel sector.
Their call for transparent regulation, infrastructure development, and sustainability-focused partnerships reflected growing concerns over the rising cost of Jet A1 fuel, which has strained airline operations and ticket affordability.
Attendees unanimously noted that LAAC’s annual colloquium, now in its 15th edition, has become a vital platform for interrogating policies and exploring solutions to industry-wide challenges.
With the minister’s renewed commitment to policy reform and FAAN’s pledge to strengthen fuel supply mechanisms, stakeholders say the 2025 edition may mark a turning point in efforts to stabilise Nigeria’s aviation fuel landscape.
Olapeju is a journalist and aviation reporter.
